Heel-building machine.



E. A. TRIPP. HEEL BUlLDING' MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9,1909.

1,056,720. Patented Mar. 18,1913.

4 8HEETB-SHEET 1.

WTA/ESSES.

B. A. TRIPP.

HEEL BUILDING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909.

1,056,720. v I Patented Mar. 18,1913

'4 sums-sum 2.

MT/VESSZZS. Z v III. I

Mfr/ Z '11. A. TRIPP.

HEEL'BUILDING MACHINE, 'APPLIOATIQN FILED 1111129, 1909 I I V 1,056,7QQ. Patented Mar. 18,1913.

4 BHEETS-SHBET 3- E. A. TRIPP. HEEL BUILDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909.

- 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

i 11% V i WT/VESS'ES UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELIPHAEE'I A. TRIPP, 015 BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

HEEL-BUILDING MACHINE.

Patented Mar. 18, 1913.

Application filed June 9, 1909. Serial l l'o. 501,005.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ELIPIIALET A. TRIPP, a citizen of the United States residing at- Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain linprovements in Heel-Building Machines, -of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters onthe drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. I

This invention relates to heel building machines and more particularly to a machine of the type in which the lifts to form the heel are assembled within a suitablemold and thereafter attached together by fasten iiigs automatically driven into the lifts. Certain features of the invention, however, are not limited for use in machines having an automatic nail driving mechanism but may be employed with advantage in machines in which the lifts are secured together by nails manually driven or in other ways.

An object of the present invention is to provide a heel building machine by the use of which heels may be built with speed. and accuracy and with a minimum amount of effort upon the part of the operator.

Another object of the invention is to improve generally the construction and arrangement of heel building machines of the type above mentioned.

\Vith these'objects in view a feature of the present invention contemplates the provision in a heel buildingniachine of a presser head mounted for movement into and out of a position above the lifts assembled upon the lift support and automatic means for driving one or more attaching nails into the lifts arranged. to be rendered operative by the n'nivenient of the presser head. By controlling the operation of the nail driving mechanism through the movementof the presser head any liability of nails being driven while said head is in its inoperative position is effectively prevented. In accordance with a convenient construction the presser head may be swung over the heel lifts by the operator and there isprovided automatic means for effecting a relative approaching movement of the presser head and lift support to apply pressure to the lifts which is arranged to be rendered operative by the movement of the presser head over the lift support. .The' nail driving mechanism is tionary in use, a mold is preferably employed which is adapted to be opened and closed upon the edges of the lifts in orderthat thelifts may be shifted into proper relation to each other as the heel is being built. In accordance with a feature of the present invention the lifts are assembled Within aflexible form which is shaped to embrace the lifts at their sides and curved ends and comprises a plurality of rigid sections pivotally connected together to give the desired flexibility to the mold. By employing a form composed of rigid sections, pivotally connected together a strong and durable construction is obtained and the form may be made sufiiciently flexible to allow it to conform to the heel lifts. Preferably the flexible form is provided with lift engagingsur faces of yielding elastic material in order that the inner walls of the mold may conform to slight irregularities in the transverse contour of the surface formed by the edges of the lifts so that the presence of such irregularities does not reclude an accurate arrangement of the li ts in a symmetrical relation. The opening and closing moveiiientof the sides of the form in the heel building operation is preferably effected by members connected to said sides adjacent to the breast ends of the form. In accordance with a convenient construction the actuating members are arranged for movement in fixed paths and the sides of the form are adjustably connected with said members so that the form may be adjusted'in the direction of its length along the lift support.

\Vith this construction the form may be ad- 4 justed relatively to the nail driving mechanism so that heels of different lengths may be built up on the lift support in proper position with relation to the nail conduits of said mechanism to insure the proper positioning of the nails in the heel. To press the heel lifts rearwardly of the form a breast gage is provided which is arranged for movement simultaneously with the sides of the form.

The invention further consists in certain features of construction and arrangement of parts which .uilt be hereinafter described in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,Figure 1 a view in side elevation of a machine embodying the presentv invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fi 3 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Figs. 4 and 5 are plan views of the lift centering mechanism with parts broken away to show the construction; Fig. (5 is a perspective view of the mechanism for lowering the presser head and the mechanism for actuating the nail driving mechanism; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of mold embodying features of the present invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a block adapted to slide in the guideway in the lift support to guide the rounded end of a mold.

Referring to the drawings the machine shown has a frame 54 which may be supported in any'suitable way as by means of legs 56. The frame is provided upon its upper front portion with a lift support 58 which is adapted to carry a flexible U- shaped form for receiving heel lifts. In Fig. 3 is shown a U-shaped form having continuous walls consisting of a. plurality of rigid sections which are pivotally connected together armlprovitled with lift engaging surfaces formed of yielding elastic material. As shown in this figure the form consists of two side sections 60 for engagoppcsite sides of the lifts and a rear connecting scction62 formed to ene age the rounded ends of the lifts and. said sections carry cylinders 64 of rubber which are received in vertical perforations opening inwardly from thewalls of the sections so tlat the rubber cylinders project inward'y, beyond the inner surfaces of the rigid secticns. \Vith this construction it will be seen tltat. the rubber'-secti ons are firmly held in operative pcsititin' and when worn out may be readily replaced by new sections. lhe rearn'u'st section 62 is provided upon its bottom surfacewith :1 lug (50 which is arran'i'ed at the center of the secti n and er nstructed to slide in a'guideway 68 formed in the lift support 'in' -a direction longitudinallyof the mold cavity so tl atlateral disp'accmcnf of the rounded end of the 'l'crm'is prevented in the heel building operation. By increasing the nun'iber ofsections which comprise the walls of the form the llexibilityof the-forn'i may be increased.. apd il" desired may be made substantially equal to that of the rubber form described in my United States liettcrs Patent, No. 1.02.1551, granted May 7, 1912.

ln Fig. 7 isshown a n'lodificd form of mold in which the side sections-.00 are respectively provided with rearwardl'y extending arms 70 which are curved to extend beneath a liai'ige 7), projecting from the rearmost section ('32 and are pivotally connected to said flange at its central portion by a pin 7%. By connecting the sections in this way the path of the side sections in the open ing and closing movements ot the form is such that a greater number of di tl'erent sized heels may be built up in a single form than would otherwise be the case. The two sides of the U-shapcd .torm have their free ends respectively articulated with the front ends of arms 76 which have their rear ends rcspectively secured upon vertical rocleshatts '78 mounted in bearings arranged upon opposite sides of the guideway in the con struetion herein shown each of the side sections is connected to the end of one of the arms 76 by means of a detachable pin St) carried by the arm. and extending through one of a series of openings 52 in a flange carried by the correspoiuling section. \Vith this co 'istruction the form may be adjusted in the direction of its length along the lift support and relatively to the nailv driving mechanism so that heels of dill'erent lei'igths may be built up in proper position upon the lift support to insure the pr per positioning of the nails in the heel.

if desired a U-shaped form, consisting of a continuous piece of yielding, elastic mater'al, such as shown in Fig. 5, may be employed in the present machine in place of the mold shown in Fig. 3. To enable the rounded end of av form of the above character to be guided loi'igitiulinally of the mold cavity, there is provided a block 84 (Fig. 8) which is formed to slide in the guideway 68 and carries a vertical pin so adapted to enter an opening in the center of the rounded end of the rubber form when the latter is placed in operative position upon the lift support.

l l'ach of the vertical rock-shafts TS carries atits lower end an arm 88 which is provided with a cam roller 90. The cam rollc1890 are respectively received in cam slots 92 formed in plates 94- carried by oppo ite endsofa bar 96 secured transvciscly upon two rods 98 which are mounted to side in the frame of the machine in a direction longitudinal of the mold cavity. The bar 5H) carries a pin 99 which is received within -a -slot formed in the upper end of a lever loo secured to a horizontal shaft 102 journaled in the frame ofthe machine. The v hat't 102 may be connected by means of a crank arm 10% and a rod 106 with a suitable trcadlc whereby the operator may contract the side-i (.fillO U-shaped"form in building a heel. The U-shapcd'forin is l1()l'll'1t\ll held in opcn position by means of a suitable springlUH.

cr '-bar lit) supported upon the froiit. ends of the rods 98 carries a breast. gage 1,12

gitudinal-of the mold cavity. In the present construction the breastgage is removably secured by a machine screw 114 to a slotted shank 116 which is adapted to be clamped in adjusted position upon the cross bar 110 by means of athumb-screw 118, shown in Fig. 3. In the heel building operation the breast gage is employed to indicate the proper height to which the heel shall be built. By removably securing the breast gage to its shank it is possible to employ a number of breast gages of different heights adapted to be used for heels of different heights. It will be seen in the construction shown that as the sides of the form are moved together by the operator the breast gage will be simultaneously moved toward I the rear of the mold cavity and when the sides of the form open the breast gage will be moved outwardly.

A presser head 120 is formed upon me upper end of abeam 122 which is pivotally supported upon the front end of an arm 124 pivotally mounted intermediate its ends upon a horizontal shaft 126 secured in the frame of the machine. The beam 122 and arm 12% are so formed and arranged that the presser head may be swung over the lift support and thereafter lowered to press the lifts upon the support. A vertical slot extends centrally through the middle and lower portion of the beam 122, and in a cross-bar 127 extending across the 'back of the slot a bolt 128 is adjustably mounted in such manner that its front end is adapted to engage a stop surface 130 on the frame of the machine to limit movement of the presser head toward the lift support. The rear end of the bolt is adapted to engage a leather pad carried by the frame of the machine to limit rearward movement of the presser head. The presser head carries a top clamp 13% for engaging the heel liftswhit-h is arranged to be vertically adjusted I l to suit heels of different heights by means of a suitable hand wheel 136. In the present machine the presser head is provided with handlesr138 whiclr'are adapted to be grasped by the operator to swing the presser head over the lift; support. A spring 139 serves to return the pressrr head to its inoperative position when released by the operator. There is provided automatic mecha nism for lowering the presser head to press the heel lifts against the lift support which is controlled by the movement of the 'nresser head into its position over the lift support, the arrai'igen'ient being such that after the.

operator moves the presser head over the heel lifts it is automatically lowered .to press them against their support. According to a convenient construction the arm 124 is forked at its rear end and the two members of the fork carry cam rollers 140 which are respectively engaged by cams 142 car- The cams 142 engage the cam rollers ley 146 which may be operatively connected therewith by means of a one revolution clutch 148. The clutch is controlled by a stop lever 150 which is adapted to be moved into and out of the pathway of a dog 152 carried by one of the movable parts of the clutch, the arrangement being such that when the stop lever is moved out of the pathway of the dog the shaft starts and rotates until the dog again engages the stop lever as is well understood in this art. In the present machine the stop lever 150 forms one arm of a bell-crank lever which is pivoted upon the frame of the machine and has its other arm 156 connected by a spring 158 with said frame, so that a yielding pressure is exerted upon the stop lever tending to move it toward the clutch. A stud 160 secured in the side of the beam 122 projects outwardly through an inclined slot 162- formed in the frame of the machine, and has its outer end received in a vertical slot "ver 150 out of the path of the dog 152 so that the clutch will be tripped to cause the main shaft to be rotated by the pulley 14-6. 140 thelift as the main shaft rotates and force presser head downwardly toward the support. it being understood that the operator holds the presser head over the lift support during the (lptlill'lOll of the machine.

There is provided automatic means for driving attaching nails into the lifts which is arranged to be thrown into operation after the presser head has been lowered to compress the lifts upon the lift support. The nail driving mechanism is provided with a nail block 178. rcmovably secured in the lift support. having the usual nail comidits and drivers 180 working 'hi said conduits. The lower ends of the drivers arefastencd to a driver plate 182 which is secured to the up per end of a plunger 184, working in a cylindrica opening formed in the frame of the 95 formed 1n one end of a link 164 carrylng amachine in axial alinement with the nail block. The end of one arm 186 of a toggle is pivotally connected with the lower end of the plunger 18st and the end of the other arm 188 of the toggle is secured to the shaft. 17% before mentioncdso that said shaft rotates upon actuation of the toggle. The toggle is actuated by a thrust link 190 which carries a cam roller 192 that is engaged by a cam ltll arranged on the main shaft 14st between the two cams 1 12. A. spring 1% serves to hold the cam roller 192 in engagement with its cam.- The thrust link carries two forks 198 which are respectively arranged to partially surround the main shaft upon opposite sides of the cam 194 as shown in Fig. (3, so that lateral displacement of the thrust link is prevented. The cam 194 is so formed that after the presser head has been lowered by the cams 14-2 the toggle is actuated so that the drivers 180 are raised to drive the nails into the lifts upon the lift support, it being understood that the operator has previously supplied the nail block with nails'in the usual manner.

It will. be seen in the construction de scribed that upon the actuation of the nail driving mechanism the crank 172 will raise the link 16-l so that the shoulder 176 will be moved out of the path of the arm 156 and thus allow the spring 158 to return the stop lever 150 to its operative position in which it is adapted to be engaged by the dog so that the main shaft will be stopped after it has rotated through one revolution. in order to insure that the main shaft- 144 will stop promptly after it has made one revolution, there is provided a 'brake 2 00 which is formed to en a e the periphery of the cam 19%. The brake 200 has one end pivoted uponthe shaft 126 and its acting surface is pressed against the face of the cam ltll by a spring 202 which is received-withina closed tube 20%. carried by the frame of the machine. The spring is supported in the tube by nuans of a disk .201) carried by a vertical rod 208 which is adjustably secured in the end of the tube bv threaded engagement therewith so tl at the tension of the. spring may be properly adpisted.

A tank 210 for ll()l(ll1l; the paste em- -ployed in the heel building operation 'is preferably attached to the upper front portion ofth e machine. The upper portion of the beam l2"! is partially surrounded by a hood 313 which is pivotally conurcted to the frame of the machine at ll-l as shown in Fig. 1.

lrclimiiiai'y to the use of the machine shown the mold isadjusted along the-lift support into such relation to the conduits ot'lhe nail driving mechanism that the nails will be properly positioned inthe heels. In,

the use of the machine a series of lifts of suitable sizes to form a heel of the desired pitch and height are successively placed within the mold cavity from above, and at the same time are given an application of paste so that their cont-acting surfaces may be closely united. The mold is contracted from time to time or as each lift is introduced and the lifts are thereby shifted into syi'nmetrical relation. In the opening and closing movement of the sides of the form the curved end of the form moves longitudinall and is guided in such movement by the guidcway in the face of the lift support. After the heel has been built up to the desired height the operator grasps one or both of the handles 13S.and imparts a forward movementto the presser head so that the top clamp 13l is positioned over the heel lifts, the extent of this movement being limited by the bolt 12S striking the stop surface 130. In the forward movement of the pr her head the link 16% also moves forwardly and its shoulder 176 engages the arm 156 of the bell-crank lever so that the stop lever 150 is moved out of the path of the dog 152 and motion is imparted to the main shaft by the pulley 146. Upon the rotationiot the" main shaft the presser head is lowered to press the lifts against the lift support by the mechanism previously described. its the beaml22 which carries the presser headis connected with the link 164 by a pin and slot connection and as the other end of the link lGt is connected with the upper end of the link 170 by a similar coi'inection, the downward movement of the presser head may take place without forcing the link 16-1- against the arm 1.56 so that liability of injuring the parts of the machine is prevented. After the presser head is engaged by the lifts the toggle is actuated by the mechanism previously described to cl rate the drivers 180 so that nails are driven into the heel lifts. In the actuation of the togglethc shaft 174- turns and the crank arm 17f) raises the link .170 which causes the link'lG-il to he raised so that its The spring 158 then moves the arm 156 so that the stop lever 150 is returned to its original position in which it is adapted to be engaged by the dog 152 so that the machine is stopped after the main shaft has rotated through one revolution. Upon the completion'ot the nail driving operation the .operator releases the presser head which is then swim; hack to its original position by the spring 139.

llaving described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A machine of the class described, having incombination, a lift support, a presser head mounted for mo ement to and from a position over the lifts sustained upon the support and power actuated means for relatively moving the presser head and lift support to apply pressure to the lifts arranged to be rendered operative by the movement of the presser head.

2. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a lift support, a presser head mounted for movement into and out of a position opposite the lifts assembled upon said support and power actuated means for forcing the presser head into pressing engagement with said lifts arranged to be con- 3. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a lift support, a presser head mounted for movement into and out of a. position opposite the lifts assembled upon said support, and means under the control of the presser head for relatively moving the presser head and lift support to apply pressure to the lifts.

4. A-heel building machine, having in combination, a support for sustaining heel lifts, a clamp mounted for movement into and out of a position over the lifts sustained position opposite the lifts assembled uponby said support, power-actuated means for actuating the clamp to apply pressure to said lifts arranged to be rendered operative by the movement of the clamp and automatic means for driving nails into said lifts while subjected to said pressure.

5. A machine of the class described, having in combination, a lift support, a presser head arranged for movement to and from a position over the lifts'sustained upon the support, power actuated means for effecting a relative approaching movement of the presser head and lift support toapply pressure to the lifts arranged to be rendered operative by the movement of the presser head over the'lift support andautomatie means for driving nails into the lifts arranged to be rendered operative after the lifts have been subjected to pressure.

(3. A heel building machine, having in combination, a flat support for a plurality of superposed lifts, a prcsser head-mounted for movement in a vertical plane to and. from a position over thelifts assembled upon said support and power-actluttcd means for forcing the prcsscr head intopressing engagen'ient with the hcel lifts arranged to be rensaid support, and mechanism rendered operative by moven'ient of the presser into said position for forcing the presser into engage.- ment.with the lifts.

8. A heel building machine, having in combination, a flat support for a plurality of superposed lifts, having a guideway formed therein, means for shifting the lifts into assembled relation upon the support including a flexible form composed of a plu-- rality of sections pivotally connected together and arranged to engage the edges of the lifts upon the sides and curved end of the heel, one of said sections adjacent to the curved end of the heel being loosely supported and having a lug projecting within said guideivay arranged to guide said curved end longitudinally of the lift receiving space, and means connected to the sides of the form for moving relatively the sides of the form to press them against the edges of the heel lifts arranged therein.

9. A heel building machine, having in combination, a fiat support for a plurality of superposed lifts, means for shifting the engage the edges of the lifts upon their sides and curved ends, nail driving mechanism for driving nails into the assembled lifts and means for moving relatively the sides of the form to press them against the edges of the heel lifts arranged therein constructed to permit said form to be bodily adjusted relatively to the last mentioned means along the lift support in the direction of its length and relatively to said nail driving mechanism.

10. A heel building machine, having in combination, a support for receiving superposed lifts, a flexible form for shifting the lifts into assembled relation upon the support including a loosely supported rear section formed to engage the lifts at their curved ends and sections for engaging the edges of the lifts upon opposite sides pivotally connected thereto, means for guiding said real-most section for movement in the direction of the lift receiving space and means connected to the side sections for contracting said form laterally to shift relatively the lifts into symmetrical lateral relation.

'11. A heel building machine, having in combination, a flat support for a plurality of superposed lifts, a flexible U-shaped form for shifting the lifts into assembled relation upon the support, a pair of pivotally mounted arms having their front ends respectively articulated with opposite sides of the form, a breast gage for pressing the lifts rear-- Wardly into engagement With said form, a slide for sustaining said breast gage mounted for movement longitudinally of the form, means for imparting movement to said. le-

vers to contract said form arranged to be movable longitudinally of the form, side sections pivoted'to said rear section and operating means eonneet l to said side sections to expand and contract the form. laterally, the connections between said operating means and side sections being adjustable longitudinally of the form to permit .variation in the length thereof.

13. A machine of the class described having, in con'xbination, a lift support, a presser mounted for movement into and out of a position over the lifts assembled upon said support, and automatic means under the control of the presser for forcing the presser into engagement with the lifts.

lat. A machine of the class described having, in combination, a lift support, av presser mounted for movement into and out of a position over the lifts as mbled upon said support, automatic means under the control of the presser for i rcing the presser into engagement with tin. lifts, and automatic means for driving nails into he lifts while they are under pressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ELIPHALET A fit I Pl.

Witnesses ALLAN H. BAmzows, 13EHNARD Bannows. 

